The Rise of Female Kings in Europe, 1300-1800

In this lively and pathbreaking book, William Monter sketches Europe's increasing acceptance of autonomous female rulers between the late Middle Ages and the French Revolution. Monter surveys the governmental records of Europe's thirty women monarchs - the famous (Mary Stuart, Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great) as well as the obscure (Charlotte of Cyprus, Isabel Clara Eugenia of the Netherlands) - describing how each of them achieved sovereign authority, wielded it, and (more often than men) abandoned it. Monter argues that Europe's female kings, who ruled by divine right, experienced no significant political opposition despite their gender. Overview: In this lively and pathbreaking book, William Monter sketches Europe's increasing acceptance of autonomous female rulers between the late Middle Ages and the French Revolution. Monter surveys the governmental records of Europe's thirty women monarchs-the famous (Mary Stuart, Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great) as well as the obscure (Charlotte of Cyprus, Isabel Clara Eugenia of the Netherlands)-describing how each of them achieved sovereign authority, wielded it, and (more often than men) abandoned it. Monter argues that Europe's female kings, who ruled by divine right, experienced no significant political opposition despite their gender Monter sketches Europe's increasing acceptance of autonomous female rulers between the late Middle Ages and the French Revolution. He surveys the governmental records of Europe's thirty women monarchs-the famous (Mary Stuart, Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great) as well as the obscure (Charlotte of Cyprus, Isabel Clara Eugenia of the Netherlands)-describing how each of them achieved sovereign authority, wielded it, and (more often than men) abandoned it. Monter argues that Europe's female kings, who ruled by divine right, experienced no significant political opposition despite their gender Early female sovereigns in global perspective Europe's female sovereigns, 1300-1800 : an overview Difficult beginnings : heiresses with crowned husbands, 1300-1550 Female regents promote female rule, 1500-1630 Husbands finessed : the era of Elizabeth I, 1550-1700 Husbands subordinated : the era of Maria Theresa, 1700-1800 Ruling without inheriting : Russian empresses Female rule after 1800 : constitutions and popular culture.